Correspondence 63

De Mello, I. F., 1935. New haemoproteids of some Indian birds. Proceedings of the Indian Academy of Sciences. Animal Science 2: 469–475. Ebada, S. S., Lajkiewicz, N., Porco, J. A., Li-Weber, M., & Proksch, P., 2011. Chemistry and biology of rocaglamides (= flavaglines) and related derivatives from aglaia species (Meliaceae). Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products 94: 1–58. Langlais, D., Cencic, R., Moradin, N., Kennedy, J. M., Ayi, K., Brown, L. E., Crandall, I., Tarry, M. J., Schmeing, M., Kain, K. C., & Porco, J. A., 2018. Rocaglates as dual- targeting agents for experimental cerebral malaria. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 115 (10): E2366–E2375. Masello, J. F., Martínez, J., Calderón, L., Wink, M., Quillfeldt, P., Sanz, V., Theuerkauf, J., Ortiz-Catedral, L., Berkunsky, I., Brunton, D., & Díaz-Luque, J. A., 2018. Can the intake of antiparasitic secondary metabolites explain the low prevalence of hemoparasites among wild Psittaciformes?. Parasites & Vectors 11 (1): 357. Tostes, R., Vashist, U., Scopel, K. K., Massard, C. L., Daemon, E., & D’Agosto, M., 2015. Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. infection in birds of the Brazilian Atlantic Forest detected by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 35 (1): 67–74. Tropical Plants Database. 2020. Aglaia spectabilis. Website URL: http://tropical. theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Aglaia+spectabilis. [Accessed on 13 April 2020.] – Paris Basumatary, Sanswrang Basumatary & Durga Brahma Paris Basumatary, Doctoral student, Department of Zoology, Bodoland University 783370, Assam, India. [Corresponding author] E-mail: [email protected] Sanswrang Basumatary, Doctoral student, Department of Botany, Bodoland University 783370, Assam, India

Paris BasumataryParis Durga Brahma, Biodiversity Conservation Society, Kokrajhar 783370, Assam, India 61. Red-breasted Parakeet seen with pecked bits of bark.

The avian haemosporidian group is composed of protozoans A Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus from the Sikkim of the genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon, Himalaya and Fallisia, and these parasites have a global distribution and On 20 May 2012, while traveling to Gurudongmar Lake for a commonly infect birds in the wild (de Aguilar et al. 2018). high land bird survey, Karma, along with Niraj Thapa and Pemba Haemosporidian infection by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium Tshering, photographed [62] a Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinereus and Haemoproteus has been considered one of the most on the banks of the Gurudongmor Lake, North Sikkim, Eastern important factors related to the extinction, or population decline, Himalaya (28.02ºN, 88.71ºE; 5,425 m asl). Its identification of several species of birds worldwide (Tostes et al. 2015), thus, is straightforward based upon its up-curved bill and pale legs in turn, parasite hosts have evolved anti-parasite behavioural, (Grimmett et al. 2011); Tim Inskipp also confirmed the identity physiological, or immunological defenses, among which, feeding [Tim Inskipp, Facebook comment in May 2012]. Till date there behaviour plays an important role in affecting the susceptibility of have been no reports of this species from the Sikkim Himalayas the birds to parasites (Masello et al. 2018). (Ali 1962; Grimmett et al. 2011; Grimmett et al. 2019; Acharya Members of the Psittaciformes, in the wild, feed on toxic & Vijayan 2011; ENVIS Centre Sikkim 2015; eBird 2020), and fruits, seeds, and flower buds, and possibly use secondary our record seems to be an addition to the avifauna of the metabolites present in their diet as self-medication to reduce Sikkim Himalayas. The bird must have been on passage from its parasite load (Masello et al. 2018). A study on 19 Psittacine wintering grounds on the eastern seaboard of India, along the species (Indo-Malayan, Australasian, and Neotropical regions) Teesta River, to its breeding grounds in the northern Palaearctic. showed that 15 species, which consumed food with antimalarial Vaurie (1972) had reported it, on migration, from Tibet. or general antiparasitic properties, were free from Haemoproteus, We thank the Forest, Environment, and Wildlife Management Plasmodium, Leucocytozoon, Trypanosoma and microfilariae Department for support. A special note of thanks to the members (Masello et al. 2018), which suggest widespread prophylactic of The Photography Club of Sikkim, for their constant guidance antiparasitic self-medication in Psittaciformes. De Mello (1935) and encouragement, and to Niraj Thapa, Pempa Tshering, and reported a total of nine species of Haemoproteus occurring in Kusal Gurung, without whom this would not have been possible. nine genera of Indian birds, but knowledge on parasitic infection in wild Psittaciformes is scarce, especially in north-eastern India. The present feeding behavior of Red-breasted Parakeet, on the bark of Aglaia spectabilis, probably suggests prophylaxis against the haemoparasites.

References Collar, N., Kirwan, G. M., & Boesman, P., 2020. Red-breasted Parakeet (Psittacula alexandri). In: del Hoyo, J., Elliott, A., Sargatal, J., Christie, D. A., & de Juana, E., (eds.). Handbook of the Birds of the World Alive. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. Karma TempoKarma Website URL: https://www.hbw.com/node/54575. [Accessed on 03 May 2020]. de Aguilar, J. R., Castillo, F., Moreno, A., Penafiel, N., Browne, L., Walter, S. T., Karubian, J., & Bonaccorso, E., 2018. Patterns of avian haemosporidian infections vary with time, but not habitat, in a fragmented Neotropical landscape. PloS one 13 (10): 1–18. 62. Terek Sandpiper at Gurudongmar Lake. 64 Indian Birds Vol. 16 No. 2 (Publ. 30 July 2020)

References Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., Inskipp, T., & Sherub. 2019. Birds of Bhutan and the Eastern Acharya, B. K., & Vijayan, L., 2011. The birds of Sikkim: An analysis of elevational Himalayas. India: Bloomsbury Publishing India Pvt. Ltd. Pp. 1–416. distribution, endemism and threats. In: Arawatia, M. L., & Tambe, S., (eds.). ENVIS Centre Sikkim., 2015. Total no. / names of birds in Sikkim (568 species). Website Biodiversity of Sikkim: Exploring and conserving a global hotspot. Gangtok, India: URL: http://sikenvis.nic.in/WriteReadData/UserFiles/file/List%20of%20Birds%20 IPR Department, Government of Sikkim. Pp. 255–282. 2015.pdf. [Accessed on 25March2020.] Ali, S., 1962. The birds of Sikkim. 1st ed. Madras, India: Oxford University Press. Pp. Vaurie, C., 1972. Tibet and its birds. 1st ed. London: H.F. & G. Witherby Ltd. Pp. i–xv, i–xxx, 1–414. 1–407. eBird. 2020. eBird: An online database of bird distribution and abundance [web – Prem K. Chhetri & Karma Tempo Ethenpa application]. eBird, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, New York. Website URL: Prem K. Chhetri, Forest & Environment Department, Government of Sikkim, http://www.ebird.org. [Accessed on 25 March 2020.] Barapathing Range 737102, Sikkim, India. E-mail: [email protected]. Grimmett, R., Inskipp, C., & Inskipp, T., 2011. Birds of the Indian Subcontinent. 2nd ed. Karma Tempo Ethenpa, (PGT English) Enchey Government Senior Secondary School, London: Oxford University Press & Christopher Helm. Pp. 1–528. Gangtok 737103, East Sikkim, Sikkim, India.

Postcard from Sri Lanka—birding during a pandemic

s I sit in the balcony of our colonial-style bungalow in Sri especially the endemics-rich central highlands, I manage to get Lanka, the COVID-19 pandemic rages across the globe. some decent birding done every day from my easy chair in the AApart from its unspeakable death toll, the misery caused balcony. to local people by the widespread lockdowns is depressing. Yet, I was initially struck by the similarity of Sri Lanka’s birds with I count my blessings. Here I am in a comfortable house at the their counterparts in southern India. After all, about 10,000 end of a winding wooded lane, perched atop a cliff overlooking years ago, Sri Lanka was contiguous with southern India. Rising the clear blue Indian Ocean. I have a stocked pantry, Internet sea levels at the end of the last Ice Age isolated and made it access, and above all, I am surrounded by abundant birdlife. an island. The birdlife here, in southern Sri Lanka, is similar to What more can I ask for, given the dreary circumstances? that of the plains of Tamil Nadu, but some birds are noticeably I came to Matara, Sri Lanka, in early February 2020, as a darker. House Crows Corvus splendens have less contrast U.S. Fulbright Scholar to the University of Ruhuna. My mission between the grey neck and darker body; White-bellied Drongos was to teach the science of climate change to students and lay Dicrurus caerulescens are just white-vented; the coffee brown audiences, to promote birding as a way to connect with nature, colour of Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer appears like a and highlight career and higher education opportunities at my darker roast; and Yellow-billed Babblers Turdoides affinis seem home institution, the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. After to have a dirtier head. Some birds sound a little different too. seven weeks of bliss, our world was turned upside down by the White-browed bulbuls Pycnonotus luteolus have less explosive pandemic. For the first time in its storied 70-year history, the whistles. Fulbright Program got suspended worldwide. We were strongly From our 37 m high balcony, I have a commanding urged to return home for fear of us getting stuck abroad without view of a verdant coconut and jackfruit tree-filled valley, and return flights. But given the deteriorating health situation in the beyond that, the clear blue Indian Ocean. On both sides of the USA and the relatively stable situation in Sri Lanka, my wife balcony are towering trees whose canopies are at eye-level. and I decided to stay put. Months into the lockdowns here, and Every morning these days, I am treated with spectacular aerial across the globe, and with air travel suspended, a clear end to displays of the ubiquitous Green Imperial Pigeons Ducula the pandemic is nowhere in sight. We are voluntarily stuck in aenea. Occasionally, while they are at it, they even clap their Sri Lanka. wings audibly, above their bodies, apparently in an attempt to I have always told students in my ornithology classes gain their partner’s attention. Having a panoramic vista means that if they get into birding, there will be no boredom in their you get views (https://ebird.org/checklist/S67706304) lives, since birds are everywhere. So, faced with an indefinite seldom seen from the ground. Swifts and swallows flyunder house confinement, I resorted to a blitz of balcony birding. you or at eye level, often dashing by within touching distance. The monthly challenges announced by eBird, to submit yard I capture Mp3 sounds with my little Olympus WS-853 voice lists, Big Day lists, and one-location lists, plus the Avurudu Bird recorder that I may not easily get from ground. The audio of Count spear-headed annually (to celebrate the song season the endemic Sri Lanka Swallow Cecropis hyperythra from my of Kohas—Asian Koel Eudynamys scolopaceus) by the Field balcony is the only one in eBird’s audio database (https://ebird. Ornithology Group of Sri Lanka, were added incentives. With org/checklist/S67712315). The soft chattering of endemic Sri 214 eBird checklists to date, reporting 82 species, my yard Lankan Grey Hornbills Ocyceros gingalensis, as they courted shows one of the highest tallies in the country for this time and copulated at eye level on coconut trees (https://ebird. period. org/checklist/S67772285), and the Lesser Yellownape’s Sri Lanka is a mecca for birders, with over 500 bird species, Picus chlorolopus oddly raptor-like scream (https://ebird.org/ including about 30 endemics, a warm and hospitable people, checklist/S67061973), are two of my 69 audio uploads from and world-class yet affordable hotels. While the pandemic Sri Lanka, augmenting my small and growing collection of bird has shattered my dreams of scouring the country for birds, sounds.